Paperwork and Residency Requirements

What paperwork will I need if I am hired?

After you are hired, you should provide documents that prove your identity and prove you are work-authorized (eligible to work legally in the United States). Acceptable documents are your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), driver’s license and social security number, which you will notate on a Form I-9. Our Human Assets team will submit the information from your I-9 in an online system called E-Verify which compares your I-9 information to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration's records to confirm employment eligibility. Shortly after you are hired, you’ll need to complete a W-4 form to allow Teach For America to determine the amount of taxes to withhold from your paycheck.

Teach For America is committed to closing the gap on educational inequity, and therefore believes in recruiting and hiring the most qualified talent to support our mission. All staff applicants must be eligible for employment by U.S. standards and have a current U.S. address.

In addition to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, additional status types that we have a history of hiring are:

We are committed to building a pathway to Teach For America for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and have successfully placed DACA recipients as corps members and as full-time Teach For America staff members. Ultimately, we will do our best to support you in navigating any challenges. Applicants with DACA status must have a social security number and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) at the time of their final interview. All Teach For America applicants, regardless of their citizenship status, must provide proof of employment eligibility documents at that time. A social security number is required to add you to our payroll.

Your immigration status is personal information, so you are not required to tell us that you are a DACA recipient. However, as an organization, we are committed to building a pathway to Teach For America for DACA recipients, so you should be as open as you feel comfortable.

If my Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is only valid for two years, does that affect my eligibility to work on staff?

You only need to show that you are currently authorized to work. Teach For America does have an affirmative responsibility to make sure that we do not inadvertently employ ineligible individuals. Upon your hire, please reach out to LegalAffairs@teachforamerica.org so that they are aware of your expiration date; Legal Affairs will later reach out to you towards the end of your authorization period to ensure that your renewal is going smoothly. This will allow us to assist you if there are problems with your renewal and help you remain on staff.

Will Teach For America help DACA eligible staff members with the renewal process?

If your Employment Authorization Document is set to expire during your tenure, Teach For America can recommend legal counsel to ensure you are able to apply for a renewal. It will be your responsibility to contact our Legal Affairs team and inform them of your timeline and provide updated proof of continuing work eligibility at the conclusion of your renewal. Staff members will be responsible for paying the cost of EAD applications and DACA renewals.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals directive is open to individuals who came to the United States before the age of 16 and who also meet a variety of other guidelines. It defers any removal action for two years and allows recipients of deferred action the opportunity to gain employment authorization for that time as well, through the grant of an Employment Authorization Document. Many recipients of DACA are also eligible to receive a social security number. Recipients of deferred action can apply to renew their EAD and DACA status approximately 180 days prior to their current expiration date.